Where to learn how to sail?

davidp80 · Jan 29th, 2007, 07:01

Hi everyone,

Back in 2005, a topic of this exact sort was posted, but nothing definitive was reached. Does anyone know, now here in 2007, if there are any places in India where one can learn how to sail? I'm just looking for some basic instruction. There's gotta be really, with so much coast!

Thanks everyone,

-Dave

capt_mahajan · Jan 29th, 2007, 09:33

Depends where. For example, there is a sailing club in Mumbai, and one here in Hyderabad. Both claim to have some training programmes. The one here is part of the Secunderabad club.

http://www.colabasailingclub.com/reports.html for the Colaba, Mumbai, sailing club.

have to warn you that
-many of the members in both places are not sailors, but brown sahibs, or in Hyderabad, army personnel.
-the civilian membership waiting list for these clubs is usually very long. (like 10/15 years!!). They have temporary memberships with hefty fees, though. (like a couple of lakhs for 3 years). Maybe you can rope in a member if they allow 'guests' to learn.

A few sailors in India seem to come from the army/navy backgrounds. There may be facilities available elsewhere too, but you would have to search for them locally.

I am sure chennai and kerela has some sailing, too, but I haven't heard of any formal training programme.

Or, you could get to the nearest coast and ask a fisherman to teach you. Not a wild idea. In fact, you may learn more with these folks.

Or you could ask Nick or me, but advertising is not allowed on IM.

capt_mahajan · Jan 29th, 2007, 09:50

The Yachting association of India has a website. 40 sailing clubs! No addresses, though.

http://www.yai.org.in/organ/clubs.htm

and a sailing school in bhopal http://www.yai.org.in/school/schools/bhopal.htm

Nick-H · Jan 29th, 2007, 11:03

I don't have a boat. and I'm so out of practice that anyone would be learning (hopefuly) from my mistakes more than my example.

Added to which I've never really been a dingy sailor. As a non-swimmer I'm not wild about sailing something that throws me in the water if I make a mistake

But, hey, Capt., I've always wanted to learn to sail something really big! Can I get lessons from you?

There is dingy sailing in Chennai somewhere. I think you could get lessons, and I don't think it is terribly yacht-clubby expensive.

capt_mahajan · Jan 29th, 2007, 11:40

Sailing something big, with all the electronics, is easier than sailing something small in many ways.

In fact, a lot of youngsters get on the bridge, see all the gizmos, and think its a computer game right upto the moment when the faecal matter hits the fan.

Nick-H · Jan 29th, 2007, 12:14

Certainly easier to sail a yacht than a dingy.

I like the close manoeuvring bits. Can I take the wheel in port? Oh Please? Has it got bow thrusters? Can I get it to round in very small circles? Oh Please? Will full astern stop us before we reach that large concrete thing? Umm... I think you can have the wheel back now... Please!

capt_mahajan · Jan 29th, 2007, 12:22

Fear going more offtopic, but..

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

? Will[/i] full astern stop us before we reach that large concrete thing?

yes, I hope, unless the Chief Engineer calls and says "we have a small, err, problem."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

Has it got bow thrusters?

Got the shivers on that one.

Two ships ago, I was relieved at Piraeus, Greece.
What happened was, after I left, they called a diver to repair something on the bow thruster, and tried it out by mistake while he was underwater, and shredded him.

The guy who releived me, along with 3 others, is in prison in Greece after being convicted of manslaughter.

dzibead · Jan 29th, 2007, 13:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by capt_mahajan

Got the shivers on that one.

Two ships ago, I was relieved at Piraeus, Greece.
What happened was, after I left, they called a diver to repair something on the bow thruster, and tried it out by mistake while he was underwater, and shredded him.

The guy who releived me, along with 3 others, is in prison in Greece after being convicted of manslaughter.

Speaking of both sailboats and large ships: I was once crewing (in a sort of pathetically inept way) for someone in a sailboat race on San Francisco Bay when the winds were gusting over 40 knots, and one of the other boats, on a spinnaker leg, lost control and broached five times right in the path of an oil tanker. There was obviously nothing the tanker could do to change course or stop, and all I could think was, "Holy s**t, I'm about to see a whole boat-load of people die." But disaster was averted ... because they were pushed off by the tanker's bow-wave!

Nick-H · Jan 29th, 2007, 15:35

Sheesh.... horror stories of the sea! One wonders what the hell they were doing that close to an oil tanker

And I think I'll pass on the bow thrusters now. And for the foreseeable future

.

My friend and I used to give our prospective crew members books about the worst things that can happen at sea --- if they weren't put off then they came sailing with us. And that was just cruising in the English Channel!

Come to think of it, it was a bit like IndiaMike, really --- there would always be someone who would ask, "what are chances of sinking?"

capt_mahajan · Jan 29th, 2007, 15:59

Old Submariners tale,
when asked "how far down does this thing go", they reply
"all the way to the bottom"

amarshah · Jan 29th, 2007, 16:43

Well well, unlike what has been said earlier...you can become a member of Colaba sailing club just after submission of the form. There would be a interview call later depending on the new member submission. Once you a member you can book and go sailing, there is always a Tindal present who can teach you a little. There are courses for sailing its a 2 day course taught every season and its open for all the members. Well the current seasons course is already over but you can do it next season.

Sailing is fun and very safe as Bombay has a safe harbor.

Any issues do ask me. I am a member of Colaba Sailing Club and do sail preety frequently

Nick-H · Jan 29th, 2007, 19:18

Great!

What boats do you have there? Anything bigger than dingies?

capt_mahajan · Jan 29th, 2007, 19:48

amarshah, glad to see the Colaba sailing club has changed its ways.

In 84 or 83, they gave me the once over and just about gave me the time of day

amarshah · Jan 30th, 2007, 11:20

Well I understand wht you getting at Captain.. but things do have changed. yes RYBC is a little awkward yet...

Both RYBC & CSC (colaba Sailing Club) having dingys - Lightings & Seabirds...only...

amarshah · Jan 30th, 2007, 11:22

Anyways i am sure you might be aware.. there is a boat show coming up next month in Mumbai

Jan 29th, 2007, 07:01	#1
davidp80 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Pennsylvania, United States Posts: 248	Where to learn how to sail? Hi everyone, Back in 2005, a topic of this exact sort was posted, but nothing definitive was reached. Does anyone know, now here in 2007, if there are any places in India where one can learn how to sail? I'm just looking for some basic instruction. There's gotta be really, with so much coast! Thanks everyone, -Dave

Jan 29th, 2007, 11:03	#4
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,692	I don't have a boat. and I'm so out of practice that anyone would be learning (hopefuly) from my mistakes more than my example. Added to which I've never really been a dingy sailor. As a non-swimmer I'm not wild about sailing something that throws me in the water if I make a mistake But, hey, Capt., I've always wanted to learn to sail something really big! Can I get lessons from you? There is dingy sailing in Chennai somewhere. I think you could get lessons, and I don't think it is terribly yacht-clubby expensive. __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Jan 29th, 2007, 16:43	#11
amarshah Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 696	Well well, unlike what has been said earlier...you can become a member of Colaba sailing club just after submission of the form. There would be a interview call later depending on the new member submission. Once you a member you can book and go sailing, there is always a Tindal present who can teach you a little. There are courses for sailing its a 2 day course taught every season and its open for all the members. Well the current seasons course is already over but you can do it next season. Sailing is fun and very safe as Bombay has a safe harbor. Any issues do ask me. I am a member of Colaba Sailing Club and do sail preety frequently __________________ Cheers Amar Year 2008 Trips - http://amards14.googlepages.com/

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Jan 29th, 2007, 09:33	#2
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,509	Depends where. For example, there is a sailing club in Mumbai, and one here in Hyderabad. Both claim to have some training programmes. The one here is part of the Secunderabad club. http://www.colabasailingclub.com/reports.html for the Colaba, Mumbai, sailing club. have to warn you that -many of the members in both places are not sailors, but brown sahibs, or in Hyderabad, army personnel. -the civilian membership waiting list for these clubs is usually very long. (like 10/15 years!!). They have temporary memberships with hefty fees, though. (like a couple of lakhs for 3 years). Maybe you can rope in a member if they allow 'guests' to learn. A few sailors in India seem to come from the army/navy backgrounds. There may be facilities available elsewhere too, but you would have to search for them locally. I am sure chennai and kerela has some sailing, too, but I haven't heard of any formal training programme. Or, you could get to the nearest coast and ask a fisherman to teach you. Not a wild idea. In fact, you may learn more with these folks. Or you could ask Nick or me, but advertising is not allowed on IM.

Jan 29th, 2007, 09:50	#3
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,509	The Yachting association of India has a website. 40 sailing clubs! No addresses, though. http://www.yai.org.in/organ/clubs.htm and a sailing school in bhopal http://www.yai.org.in/school/schools/bhopal.htm

Jan 29th, 2007, 11:40	#5
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,509	Sailing something big, with all the electronics, is easier than sailing something small in many ways. In fact, a lot of youngsters get on the bridge, see all the gizmos, and think its a computer game right upto the moment when the faecal matter hits the fan.

Jan 29th, 2007, 12:14	#6
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,692	Certainly easier to sail a yacht than a dingy. I like the close manoeuvring bits. Can I take the wheel in port? Oh Please? Has it got bow thrusters? Can I get it to round in very small circles? Oh Please? Will full astern stop us before we reach that large concrete thing? Umm... I think you can have the wheel back now... Please!

Jan 29th, 2007, 15:35	#9
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,692	Sheesh.... horror stories of the sea! One wonders what the hell they were doing that close to an oil tanker And I think I'll pass on the bow thrusters now. And for the foreseeable future . My friend and I used to give our prospective crew members books about the worst things that can happen at sea --- if they weren't put off then they came sailing with us. And that was just cruising in the English Channel! Come to think of it, it was a bit like IndiaMike, really --- there would always be someone who would ask, "what are chances of sinking?"

Jan 29th, 2007, 15:59	#10
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,509	Old Submariners tale, when asked "how far down does this thing go", they reply "all the way to the bottom"

Jan 29th, 2007, 19:18	#12
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,692	Great! What boats do you have there? Anything bigger than dingies?

Jan 29th, 2007, 19:48	#13
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,509	amarshah, glad to see the Colaba sailing club has changed its ways. In 84 or 83, they gave me the once over and just about gave me the time of day

Jan 30th, 2007, 11:20	#14
amarshah Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 696	Well I understand wht you getting at Captain.. but things do have changed. yes RYBC is a little awkward yet... Both RYBC & CSC (colaba Sailing Club) having dingys - Lightings & Seabirds...only...

Jan 30th, 2007, 11:22	#15
amarshah Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 696	Anyways i am sure you might be aware.. there is a boat show coming up next month in Mumbai

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